Computer housing with expansion bay cover and methods for operating expansion bay covers

ABSTRACT

Computer housings with retractable expansion bay covers and methods for operating expansion bay covers. In one embodiment, a computer housing includes casing, a front bezel attached to the casing, and a retractable cover system attached to the casing and/or the front bezel. In one embodiment, the casing can have a side structure with a first side and a second side, and a front structure spanning across a front portion of the side structure. The front structure generally has a plurality of permanent drive bays and at least one expansion bay, and the front bezel generally has an opening for each permanent drive bay and an aperture for the expansion bays. The retractable cover system is slidably attached to the casing and/or the front bezel to selectively cover the expansion bay aperture. The cover system can include an internal track in the front bezel or along the side structure and a movable cover having a nub received in the track. The cover slides between a first position in it closes the expansion bay aperture and a second position in which it is retracted into the front bezel and/or the frame to open the expansion bay aperture.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to computers, and more specificallyto housings for computers with retractable covers for protectingexpansion bays at the front of the housings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Computers have external housings that protect the delicate andsophisticated electronic and optical components in most desktop andlaptop computers. The housings generally have a metal chassis and aplastic cover around the chassis. Several computer components, such ascontrol boards, power supplies, hard disk drives and fans, are enclosedby the housing. Other computer components, such as CD ROMS and floppydisk drives, are accessible to a user through openings in the housing.Most computers also have at least one expansion bay for receivingzip-drives, tape backup drives and other expansion components thatcustomize a computer for a specific user.

[0003] The expansion bays are typically protected by detachable coversthat snap into the housing. Although snap-type covers protect thecomputers from inadvertently inserting foreign objects in the expansionbays, these covers are easily misplaced after they have been detachedfrom the housing. Snap-type covers can also be easily damaged becausethey generally have plastic connectors that may break if the covers aretwisted as they are detached from the housing. As such, snap-type coversmay be lost or broken over the life of the computer.

[0004] Another type of cover is a pivoting door that rotates from aclosed position to an open position. In the closed position, thepivoting door is the generally flush with the front panel of thehousing. But, in the closed position, the pivoting door projectsoutwardly from the front panel for almost the fill length of the door.Such pivoting doors may be broken or otherwise detached from the housingin the open position because users are apt to inadvertently bump orstrike the doors while moving in front of the computer. Therefore,existing pivoting door-type expansion bay covers may be easily broken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is directed toward computer housings withretractable covers for covering expansion bays or other openings. In oneembodiment, a computer housing includes a casing, a front bezel attachedto the casing, and a retractable cover system attached to the casingand/or the front bezel. The casing can have a side structure with afirst side and a second side, and a front structure spanning across afront portion of the side structure. The front structure generally has aplurality of permanent drive bays and at least one expansion bay. Thefront bezel generally has a plurality of openings that fit over thepermanent drive bays and at least one expansion bay aperture for theexpansion bay.

[0006] The retractable cover system is slidably attached to the casingand/or the front bezel to selectively cover the expansion bay aperture.The cover system, for example, can include an internal track in thefront bezel and/or along the side structure. The cover system can alsoinclude a movable cover that slides between a first position and asecond position. In the first position, the cover closes the expansionbay aperture. In the second position, the cover is received within oneof the front bezel or the casing to open the expansion bay aperture. Thecover, for example, can be a panel, a flexible sheet or other types ofdoors having a first edge with a first nub and a second edge with asecond nub. The first and second nubs can be slidably received in thetrack to slide between the first and second positions. The retractablecover system can also include a securing element attached to the frontbezel to releasably hold the cover in the second position.

[0007] The internal track can have several configurations. In oneembodiment, the track includes a first rail with an elongated firstgroove and a second rail with an elongated second groove. The first railcan extend rearwardly from the front bezel along the first side of thecasing, and the second rail can extend rearwardly from the front bezelalong the second side of the casing. The first groove generally facesthe second groove across a gap between the first and second sides of thecasing. In this embodiment, the rails each include a pivot recessproximate to the front bezel. The nubs of the cover are received in thepivot recesses when the cover is in the first position, and the nubs arereceived within the groove of the rail when the cover is in the secondposition. In operation, the cover is generally co-planar with the frontbezel in the first position, but the cover is retracted within thecasing or the front bezel in the second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a computer having ahousing including a retractable cover system in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

[0009]FIG. 2A is a front elevational view illustrating a portion of ahousing having a retractable cover system in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

[0010]FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a portion of ahousing having the retractable cover system of FIG. 2A taken along line2A-2A.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a portion ofthe retractable cover system of FIG. 2B in a retracted position.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a portion ofcomputer housing having a retractable cover system in accordance withanother embodiment of the invention.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a portion ofanother computer housing having a retractable cover system in accordancewith yet another embodiment of the invention.

[0014]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view illustrating a portion of acomputer housing having a retractable cover system in accordance withanother embodiment of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a front elevational view illustrating a portion of acomputer housing having a retractable cover system in accordance withanother embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The following disclosure provides a detailed description ofseveral embodiments of computers having housings including retractablecover systems in accordance with the invention. FIGS. 1-7 and thefollowing detailed description set forth several specific details of theinvention to provide a thorough understanding of particular embodimentsof the invention. The following description also provides examples ofpreferred embodiments of computer housings in accordance with theinvention. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that thepresent invention may have additional embodiments, or that otherembodiments of the invention may be practice without several of thespecific features described in this section.

[0017]FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view illustrating a computer 10having a housing 20 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.The housing 20 can include a casing 30, a front bezel 50 attached to thecasing 30, and a retractable cover system having a movable cover 70slidably attached to the housing 20. The computer 10 also includes anumber of internal components 80 (shown schematically), accessiblecomponents 90 (shown schematically) and expansion components 92 (shownschematically). The internal components 80 generally include aprocessor, random memory devices, hard disk memory devices, powersupplies, cooling units and many other devices. The accessiblecomponents 90 are generally accessible to users. For example, theaccessible components can include a CD ROM drive and a floppy diskdrive. The expansion components 92 are generally optional componentsthat are added to the computer 10 according to the particularconfiguration of a user. The expansion components 92 can include a zipdrive, a tape-backup drive, or another type of add-on device. Inoperation, the cover 70 moves between a first position in which itcovers the expansion components 92 and a second position in which it isreceived within the housing 20. The cover 70 accordingly remainsattached to the housing 20, but it does not project significantly beyondthe casing 30 or the front bezel 50 when it is in the second position.

[0018] The casing 30 can include a first side 32 a, a second side 32 b,and a front structure 34 spanning across a front portion of the firstand second sides 32 a and 32 b. In the particular embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the first side 32 a and the second side 32 b collectively definea side structure 32. The first and second sides 32 a and 32 b can bepanels or they can be frames that are covered by separate panels. Thecasing 30 can further include a back structure 36, a bottom structure 37and a top structure 38. The casing 30 can have a generally rectilinearconfiguration, or the casing 30 can have a rounded configuration inwhich the side structure 32, the rear structure 36 and the top structure38 have a curved configuration. The casing 30 is generally made fromsheetmetal, hard plastics and/or other suitable materials to protect theinternal components 80, the accessible components 90 and the expansioncomponents 92.

[0019] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the front portion 34 is apanel having a first permanent drive bay 42 for a CD ROM drive, a secondpermanent drive bay 44 for a floppy disk drive, and a plurality ofexpansion bays 46 for the expansion components 92. The front portion 34can also include additional openings 47 and vents 48.

[0020] The front bezel 50 shown in FIG. 1 is an aesthetic panel attachedto the front portion 34 of the casing 30. The front bezel 50 generallyincludes a first opening 52 aligned with the first permanent drive bay42, an expansion bay aperture 54 aligned with the expansion bays 46, anda second opening 56 aligned with the second permanent drive bay 44. Thefront bezel 50 can further include a hole 58 aligned with the vents 48of the casing 30. As explained in more detail below, the cover 70 canpivot downwardly (Arrow “D”) to open the expansion bay aperture 54, andthen the cover 70 can slide (Arrow “S”) into the casing 30 to protectthe cover 70 while the expansion bay aperture 54 is open.

[0021]FIG. 2A is a front elevational view and FIG. 2B is a sidecross-sectional view of a retractable cover system 60 in accordance withone embodiment of the invention. This embodiment of the retractablecover system 60 includes the cover 70 and a track 61 extending into thecasing 30. The cover 70 has a first side edge 71 a and a second sideedge 71 b (FIG. 2A). The first and second sides 71 a and 71 b are spacedapart from one another so that the cover 70 can pass through theexpansion bay aperture 54 in the front bezel 50. The cover 70 also has afirst nub 72 a projecting from the first side 71 a and a second nub 72 b(shown only in FIG. 2A) projecting from the second side 71 b. The firstand second nubs 72 a and 72 b are collectively referred to herein asnubs 72.

[0022] The track 61 can include a first rail 62 a and a second rail 62 bextending rearwardly from the front bezel 50 into the casing 30. Thefirst and second rails 62 a and 62 b are collectively referred to hereinas rails 62. In one embodiment, the first rail 62 a is attached to thefirst side 32 a and the second rail 62 b is attached to the second side32 b. Referring to FIG. 2B, the front bezel 50 can have a notch 57 toreceive the forward end of each rail 62 and a thin facing 59 coveringthe outer face of each rail 62. Each rail 62 also has a recess 65 toreceive a portion of a nub 72. As shown in FIG. 2B, for example, therecess 65 in the first rail 62 a receives the first nub 72 a so that thecover 70 can pivot downwardly. The rails 62 can be attached to thecasing 30 by spot welds, fasteners (e.g., screws or bolts) or adhesives.

[0023] The operation of the retractable cover system 60 is bestillustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3. Referring to FIG. 2B, the cover 70 isshown in the first position in which it closes the expansion bayaperture 54 in the front bezel 50 to cover the expansion bays 46 in thefront portion 34 of the casing 30. The nubs 72 rest in the recesses 65of the rails 62 to hold the lower portion of the cover 70 in the firstposition. To access the expansion components 92 or the expansion bays46, the cover 70 is opened by rotating the cover 70 downwardly (Arrow D)to an intermediate position (shown in phantom), and then the cover isretracted into the casing 30 by sliding the cover 70 along the rails 62(Arrow S). The nubs 72 accordingly rotate within the recesses 65 as thecover 70 rotates downwardly, and then the nubs 72 slide along theelongated groves 64 until the cover 70 is received within the casing 30.FIG. 3 illustrates the cover 70 in the second position in which it isreceived within the casing 30.

[0024] The embodiments of the retractable cover system 60 illustrated inFIGS. 2A-3 provide easy and fast access to the expansion bays 46 and theexpansion components 92. The expansion bays 46, for example, can bequickly opened for installing or removing expansion components 92 fromthe computer 10 by merely pivoting the cover 70 downwardly and thenretracting the cover 70 into the casing 30. Additionally, after usingthe expansion components 92, the expansion bays 46 and the expansioncomponents 92 can be quickly protected by sliding the cover 70 outwardlyuntil the nubs 72 drop into the recess 65, and then rotating the cover70 upwardly to close the expansion bay aperture 54. Therefore, theretractable cover system 60 provides easy and quick manipulation of theexpansion bays 46 and the expansion components 92.

[0025] The embodiments of the retractable cover system 60 illustrated inFIGS. 2A-3 are also expected to prevent the cover 70 from being lost ordamaged. The cover 70 is connected to the casing 30 and the front bezel50 so that it can be opened and closed without detaching the cover 70from the computer 10. As a result, it is unlikely that the cover 70 willbe lost when the expansion bay aperture 54 is opened. Additionally, thecover 70 retracts into the casing 30 so that only a small portion of thecover 70 projects beyond the front bezel 50. The cover 70 is accordinglyunlikely to be broken or otherwise damaged in the open position.Therefore, the embodiments of the retractable cover system 60 shown inFIGS. 2A-3 are expected to prevent damage to, or misplacement of, thecover 70.

[0026]FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of another retractable coversystem 160 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In thisembodiment, the retractable cover system 160 includes a track having afirst rail 62 a attached to the first side 32 a and a second rail (notshown) attached to the second side 32 b similar to the first and secondrails 62 a and 62 b described above with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.The retractable cover system 160 further includes an expansion bayaperture 154 in the front bezel 150 including a slot 155 on each side ofthe aperture (only one shown). Each slot 155 has a securing device 156,a vertical portion 157, and a curved portion 158. The securing device156 can be a flexible member with a small gap. The curved portion 158 ofeach slot has one leg aligned with one of the elongated grooves 64 andanother leg aligned with a corresponding vertical portion 157 of a slot155. In this embodiment, the retractable cover system 160 also has aflexible door 170 having a pair of first nubs 172 at the lower end ofthe cover 170 and a pair of second nubs 174 at the upper end of thecover 170. The cover 170 can be a continuous sheet of a flexiblematerial, or the cover 170 can have a plurality of panels 171 (shown inphantom) that are pivotally joined together at joints 173 (also shown inphantom). In either embodiment, the cover 170 moves from the closedposition to the open position by sliding the cover 170 along theelongated grooves 64 and the slots 155. When the cover 170 is in theclosed position, the upper nubs 174 are received in the securing device156 to hold the cover 170 from falling into the rails 62.

[0027]FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a retractable coversystem 260 in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.In this embodiment, the retractable cover system 260 includes anexpansion bay aperture 254 in the front bezel 50 having a slot 255 oneach side of the aperture 254 (only one shown) and a securing device 256at an upper end of each slot 255. The retractable cover system 260further includes a cover 270 having at least one first guide 272 and atleast one second guide 274. The securing device 256 is configured toreceive the second guide 274 in a manner that holds the cover 270 toprevent the cover 270 from sliding downwardly within the slots 255. Inoperation, the cover is moved vertically within the slots 255 between aclosed position and an open position.

[0028]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view illustrating a retractablecover system 360 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.In this embodiment, the retractable cover system 360 includes a track361 comprising a groove or slot 362 along the side edges of a cover 370,and a nub 372 projecting from each side 32 a and 32 b of the casing 30.Each nub 372 is received in a corresponding groove 362 so that the cover370 can slide along the nubs 372. The cover 370, for example, can berotated downward and then moved inward into the casing 30. Theretractable cover system 360 can accordingly operate in a manner similarto the retractable cover system 60 described above.

[0029]FIG. 7 is a front elevational view illustrating a retractablecover system 460 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.In this embodiment, the retractable cover system 460 includes a track461 comprising a groove or slot 462 along the side edges of a cover 470,and a nub 472 projecting from each side of an expansion bay aperture 454in a front bezel 450. Each nub 472 is received in a corresponding groove462 so that the cover 470 can slide along the nubs 472. The cover 470,for example, can be rotated downward and then moved inward into thecasing behind the front bezel 450. The retractable cover system 360 canaccordingly operate in a manner similar to the retractable cover system60 described above.

[0030] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that although specificembodiments of the computer and the retractable cover system have beendescribed for purposes of illustration, various modifications may bemade without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, the invention is not limited except by the appended claims.

1. A computer housing comprising: a casing having a side structure witha first side and a second side, and a front structure spanning across afront portion of the side structure, the front structure having apermanent drive bay and at least one expansion bay; a front bezelcovering the front structure of the casing, the front bezel having anopening for the permanent drive bay and an expansion bay aperture; aretractable cover system slidably attached to the casing and/or thefront bezel to selectively cover the expansion bay aperture, the coversystem including an internal track in the front bezel or along the sidestructure, a moveable cover having a nub received in the track to slidebetween a first position in which the cover closes the expansion bayaperture and a second position in which the cover is received within oneof the front bezel or the casing to open the expansion bay aperture. 2.The computer housing of claim 1 wherein: the track comprises a firstrail including an elongated first groove with a first recess at aforward end of the first rail and a second rail including an elongatedsecond groove with a second recess at a forward end of the second rail,the first rail extending rearwardly from the front bezel along the firstside of the casing and the second rail extending rearwardly from thefront bezel along the second side of the casing, and the first groovefacing the second groove across a gap between the first and second sidesof the casing; and the cover includes a panel having a first side with afirst nub and a second side with a second nub, the nubs being receivedin the pivot recesses when the cover is in the first position and thenubs being received within the grooves of the rails when the cover is inthe second position, wherein the cover is generally coplanar with thefront bezel in the first position and the cover is received within thecasing in the second position by rotating the cover from the firstposition to align the cover and the nubs with the rails in anintermediate position, and then sliding the nubs rearwardly along therails to move the cover into the gap between the first and second sidesin the second position.
 3. The computer housing of claim 1 wherein: thetrack comprises a first rail including an elongated first groove with afirst recess at a forward end of the first rail and a second railincluding an elongated second groove with a second recess at a forwardend of the second rail, the first rail extending rearwardly from thefront bezel along the first side of the casing and the second railextending rearwardly from the front bezel along the second side of thecasing, and the first groove facing the second groove across a gapbetween the first and second sides of the casing; the front bezelincludes a first slot on one side of the expansion bay aperture and asecond slot on an opposite side of the expansion bay aperture, the firstand second slots having a generally vertical section and a curvedsection, wherein the curved section of the first slot joins the firstgroove of the first rail and the curved section of the second slot joinsthe second groove of the second rail; and the cover includes a flexiblesheet having a first side with a first nub and a second side with asecond nub, the first nub being received within the first groove of thefirst rail or the first slot, and the second nub being received withinthe second groove of the second rail or the second slot, wherein thecover is generally coplanar with the front bezel in the first positionand the cover is received within the casing in the second position bysliding the nubs along the slots and the rails.
 4. The computer housingof claim 1 wherein: the track comprises a first rail including anelongated first groove with a first recess at a forward end of the firstrail and a second rail including an elongated second groove with asecond recess at a forward end of the second rail, the first railextending rearwardly from the front bezel along the first side of thecasing and the second rail extending rearwardly from the front bezelalong the second side of the casing, and the first groove facing thesecond groove across a gap between the first and second sides of thecasing; the front bezel includes a first slot on one side of theexpansion bay aperture and a second slot on an opposite side of theexpansion bay aperture, the first and second slots having a generallyvertical section and a curved section, wherein the curved section of thefirst slot joins the first groove of the first rail and the curvedsection of the second slot joins the second groove of the second rail;and the cover includes a plurality of rectilinear sections pivotallyattached to one another to define a flexible panel having a first sidewith a first nub and a second side with a second nub, the first nubbeing received within the first groove of the first rail or the firstslot, and the second nub being received within the second groove of thesecond rail or the second slot, wherein the cover is generally coplanarwith the front bezel in the first position and the cover is receivedwithin the casing and in the second position by sliding the nubs alongslots and the rails.
 5. The computer housing of claim 1, wherein: thetrack comprises a first generally vertical slot in the front bezel on afirst side of the expansion bay aperture and a second generally verticalslot in the front bezel on a second side of the expansion bay apertureopposite the first side, the first slot facing the second slot, and thefirst and second slots extending vertically beyond the expansion bayaperture within the front bezel; the front bezel includes a securingdevice at one end of each slot; and the cover includes a panel having afirst side with a first nub and a second side with a second nub, thefirst nub being received in the first slot and the second nub beingreceived in the second slot, wherein the nubs slide in the slots as thecover moves vertically between the first position and the secondposition, and wherein the nubs engage the securing device in one of thefirst position or the second position to hold the cover in the one ofthe first position or the second position.
 6. A computer housingcomprising: a casing having a side structure with a first side and asecond side, and a front structure spanning across a front portion ofthe side structure, the front structure having a permanent bay and atleast one expansion bay; a shell having a front bezel covering the frontstructure of the casing and a cover section covering the side structure,the front bezel having a CD ROM opening, a disk drive opening, and anexpansion bay aperture; a retractable cover system slidably attached tothe casing and/or the front bezel to selectively cover the expansion bayaperture, the cover system including a nub projecting from either thefront bezel into the expansion bay aperture or from the side structureinto an internal cavity in the casing, a moveable cover having a trackto receive the nub and slide along the nub between a first position inwhich the cover closes the expansion bay aperture and a second positionin which the cover is received within one of the casing or the frontbezel to open the expansion bay aperture.
 7. The computer housing ofclaim 6 wherein the cover includes a panel having a first side edge anda second side edge, and the track comprises an elongated first groove onthe first side edge and an elongated second groove on the second sideedge, the first nub being received in the first groove and the secondnub being received in the second groove.
 8. The computer housing ofclaim 6 wherein the cover includes a flexible sheet having a first sideedge and a second side edge, and the track comprises an elongated firstgroove on the first side edge and an elongated second groove on thesecond side edge, the first nub being received in the first groove andthe second nub being received in the second groove.
 9. The computerhousing of claim 6 wherein the cover includes a plurality of rectilinearsections pivotally attached to one another defining a flexible panelhaving a first side edge and a second side edge, and the track comprisesan elongated first groove on the first side edge and an elongated secondgroove on the second side edge, the first nub being received in thefirst groove and the second nub being received in the second groove. 10.The computer housing of claim 6, wherein the cover includes a panelhaving a first side edge and a second side edge, and the track comprisesan elongated first groove on the first side edge with a first pivotrecess and an elongated second groove on the second side edge with asecond pivot, the first nub being received in the first groove and thesecond nub being received in the second groove, wherein the cover pivotsabout the nubs when the nubs are in the recesses until the cover is inan intermediate position and then the nubs slide along the grooves toretract the cover within the casing.
 11. A computer comprising: ahousing including a casing having a side structure with a first side anda second side, and a front structure spanning across a front portion ofthe side structure, the front structure having a permanent drive bay andat least one expansion bay; a front bezel covering the front structureof the casing, the front bezel having an opening for the permanent drivebay and an expansion bay aperture; a retractable cover system slidablyattached to the casing and/or the front bezel to selectively cover theexpansion bay aperture, the cover system including an internal track inthe front bezel or along the side structure, a moveable cover having anub received in the track to slide between a first position in which thecover closes the expansion bay aperture and a second position in whichthe cover is received within one of the front bezel or the casing toopen the expansion bay aperture; a control board within the housing, thecontrol board being removably coupled to the casing, and the controlboard including at least a processor and a memory device operativelycoupled to the processor; and a permanent drive component removablycoupled to the casing in the permanent drive bay.
 12. The computerhousing of claim 11 wherein: the track comprises a first rail includingan elongated first groove with a first recess at a forward end of thefirst rail and a second rail including an elongated second groove with asecond recess at a forward end of the second rail, the first railextending rearwardly from the front bezel along the first side of thecasing and the second rail extending rearwardly from the front bezelalong the second side of the casing, and the first groove facing thesecond groove across a gap between the first and second sides of thecasing; and the cover includes a panel having a first side with a firstnub and a second side with a second nub, the nubs being received in thepivot recesses when the cover is in the first position and the nubsbeing received within the grooves of the rails when the cover is in thesecond position, wherein the cover is generally coplanar with the frontbezel in the first position and the cover is received within the casingin the second position by rotating the cover from the first position toalign the cover and the nubs with the rails in an intermediate position,and then sliding the nubs rearwardly along the rails to move the coverinto the gap between the first and second sides in the second position.13. The computer housing of claim 11 wherein: the track comprises afirst rail including an elongated first groove with a first recess at aforward end of the first rail and a second rail including an elongatedsecond groove with a second recess at a forward end of the second rail,the first rail extending rearwardly from the front bezel along the firstside of the casing and the second rail extending rearwardly from thefront bezel along the second side of the casing, and the first groovefacing the second groove across a gap between the first and second sidesof the casing; the front bezel includes a first slot on one side of theexpansion bay aperture and a second slot on an opposite side of theexpansion bay aperture, the first and second slots having a generallyvertical section and a curved section, wherein the curved section of thefirst slot joins the first groove of the first rail and the curvedsection of the second slot joins the second groove of the second rail;and the cover includes a flexible sheet having a first side with a firstnub and a second side with a second nub, the first nub being receivedwithin the first groove of the first rail or the first slot, and thesecond nub being received within the second groove of the second rail orthe second slot, wherein the cover is generally coplanar with the frontbezel in the first position and the cover is received within the casingin the second position by sliding the nubs along the slots and therails.
 14. The computer housing of claim 11 wherein: the track comprisesa first rail including an elongated first groove with a first recess ata forward end of the first rail and a second rail including an elongatedsecond groove with a second recess at a forward end of the second rail,the first rail extending rearwardly from the front bezel along the firstside of the casing and the second rail extending rearwardly from thefront bezel along the second side of the casing, and the first groovefacing the second groove across a gap between the first and second sidesof the casing; the front bezel includes a first slot on one side of theexpansion bay aperture and a second slot on an opposite side of theexpansion bay aperture, the first and second slots having a generallyvertical section and a curved section, wherein the curved section of thefirst slot joins the first groove of the first rail and the curvedsection of the second slot joins the second groove of the second rail;and the cover includes a plurality of rectilinear sections pivotallyattached to one another to define a flexible panel having a first sidewith a first nub and a second side with a second nub, the first nubbeing within the first groove of the first rail or the first slot, andthe second nub being received within the second groove of the secondrail or the second slot, wherein the cover is generally coplanar withthe front bezel in the first position and the cover is received withinthe casing in the second position by sliding the nubs along slots andthe rails.
 15. The computer housing of claim 11 wherein: the trackcomprises a first generally vertical slot in the front bezel on a firstside of the expansion bay aperture and a second generally vertical slotin the front bezel on a second side of the expansion bay apertureopposite the first side, the first slot facing the second slot, and thefirst and second slots extending vertically beyond the expansion bayaperture within the front bezel; the front bezel includes a securingdevice at one end of each slot; and the cover includes a panel having afirst side with a first nub and a second side with a second nub, thefirst nub being received in the first slot and the second nub beingreceived in the second slot, wherein the nubs slide in the slots as thecover moves vertically between the first position and the secondposition, and wherein the nubs engage the securing device in one of thefirst position or the second position to hold the cover in the one ofthe first position or the second position.
 16. A computer comprising: ahousing including a casing having a side structure with a first side anda second side, and a front structure spanning across a front portion ofthe side structure, the front structure having a permanent drive bay andat least one expansion bay; a shell having a front bezel covering thefront structure of the casing and a cover section covering the sidestructure, the front bezel having an opening for the permanent drive bayand an expansion bay aperture; a retractable cover system slidablyattached to the casing and/or the front bezel to selectively cover theexpansion bay aperture, the cover system including a nub projecting fromeither the front bezel into the expansion bay aperture or from the sidestructure into an internal cavity in the casing, a moveable cover havinga track to receive the nub and slide along the nub between a firstposition in which the cover closes the expansion bay aperture and asecond position in which the cover is received within one of the casingor the front bezel to open the expansion bay aperture; a control boardwithin the housing, the control board being removably coupled to thecasing, and the control board including a processor and a memory deviceoperatively coupled to the processor; a CD ROM drive removably coupledto the casing in the CD ROM bay; and a disk drive removably coupled tothe casing in the disk drive bay.
 17. The computer housing of claim 16wherein the cover includes a panel having a first side edge and a secondside edge, and the track comprises an elongated first groove on thefirst side edge and an elongated second groove on the second side edge,the first nub being received in the first groove and the second nubbeing received in the second groove.
 18. The computer housing of claim16 wherein the cover includes a flexible sheet having a first side edgeand a second side edge, and the track comprises an elongated firstgroove on the first side edge and an elongated second groove on thesecond side edge, the first nub being received in the first groove andthe second nub being received in the second groove.
 19. The computerhousing of claim 16 wherein the cover includes a plurality ofrectilinear sections pivotally attached to one another defining aflexible panel having a first side edge and a second side edge, and thetrack comprises an elongated first groove on the first side edge and anelongated second groove on the second side edge, the first nub beingreceived in the first groove and the second nub being received in thesecond groove.
 20. The computer housing of claim 16, wherein the coverincludes a panel having a first side edge and a second side edge, andthe track comprises an elongated first groove on the first side edgewith a first pivot recess and an elongated second groove on the secondside edge with a second pivot, the first nub being received in the firstgroove and the second nub being received in the second groove, whereinthe cover pivots about the nubs when the nubs are in the recesses untilthe cover is in an intermediate position and then the nubs slide alongthe grooves to retract the cover within the casing.
 21. In the operationof a computer, a method of installing a component in an expansion bay ofthe computer, comprising: opening an aperture in front of the expansionbay by moving a cover closing the aperture, the cover being moved byrotating the cover from a closed position to project forwardly away fromthe computer and then sliding the cover into a cavity in a housing ofthe computer to retract the cover into the computer; and inserting acomponent through the aperture and into the expansion bay.
 22. In theoperation of a computer, a method of installing a component into anexpansion bay of the computer, comprising: opening an aperture in frontof the expansion bay by moving a cover closing the aperture, the coverbeing moved by sliding the cover vertically within a front bezel of thecomputer and a casing behind the front bezel from a closed position inwhich the cover closes the aperture to an open position in which thecover is received within the casing; and inserting a component throughthe aperture and into the expansion bay.